Upon reflection, I think I actually agree with you as far as readability goes. I think it’s just much less of an issue for me personally because Elden Ring gives you so many options and so much help when it comes to builds and boss fights.

And hey! Summoning is an important feature of the game, and it allows people with slower reflexes and less time like myself to enjoy the game! My husband did a Rune Level 1 challenge and made it to Elden Beast with his summons and his ashes of war. (He stopped at Elden Beast cuz he knew he could beat it given enough time, and just didnt like the fight enough to care.)

I 100% agree, i can not stand the controls in Witcher 3. I’ve tried 3 separate times to get into it and it just feels so awful to play.

Dark Souls 3. I have 160 hours in Dark Souls 3, and I hated probably 90% of it. Its just such a boring slog, it’s when Fromsoft imo jumped the shark with what i call, “flailing boss syndrome.” So many bosses and enemies in DS3 just flail wildly with such little telegraph or strategy other than, roll away, and mash roll. Dodging should be a strategic maneuver that lets you avoid damage and change your position, but it really hasn’t been that since Dark Souls 2.

DS3 is what started the whole dodge slop thing thats so prevalent in modern souls likes. Ironically, Bloodborne, which also has flailing boss syndrome, is one of my favorite games of all time, but the game is a lot more deliberate in its design around those kinds of bosses… minus a few.

I think DS3 is too Action, not enough RPG for me as a Souls game. Bloodborne is unique enough to be a separate category for me, and Elden Ring’s weapon ashes really add a lot more flavor and gameplay, along with letting you really diversify your build more. Plus I think the bosses in Elden Ring are more readable, and block is actually something you can feasibly do. (Though I do think they need to decrease the dead angle that can hit you when blocking.)

I just despise Dark Souls 3 so much, all everyone talks about are the late game bosses, but dont mention the slog of areas you need to get through to get to any of the good bosses.

But is DS3 a bad game? probably not, its probably a me problem. DS2 set my expectations up in the sense that DS2 was completely different gameplay wise to DS1, where as DS3 felt like a more generic sequel to DS1 rather than expanding and making the game feel different or unique. DS3 was just DS1 but super fast and that’s really it. I guess i just wanted something different.